"I think everyone was shocked by it. It was devastating — we all play on an old boys team called the Silver Foxes and Dan had expressed a number of times how difficult his transition was and it is difficult for a lot of professional sports people, especially when you've had 10 or more years at the top of the game," Finegan said.

"The transition from being a professional sportsman into the world after sport can be challenging, and we've seen it in a number of sports."

Vickerman made his Test debut against France in 2002 and went on to play 63 Tests, but was forced into retirement by stress fractures in his right leg.

The 203-centimetre lock was born in Cape Town, South Africa and played for South Africa's under-19 side in 1999 before moving to Australia and donning green and gold at the under-21 level one year later.

In 2001 he started what turned out to be an 86-game Super Rugby career with the Brumbies and Waratahs, and was called up to the Wallabies in 2002.

Wallabies flanker Phil Waugh played alongside Vickerman at the Waratahs and on the international scene and said Vickerman's team-mates are "all devastated about our good friend and team-mate".